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The Polite -ます Form

Polite present and future

-ます is the polite present / future

Used for habitual and future actions.

📊 -ます forms
Form Ending Meaning
affirmative -ます do / will do
negative -ません don't / won't
past -ました did
past negative -ませんでした didn't
💬 Examples
食べます
tabemasu
eat / will eat
📝 Polite non-past
行きます
ikimasu
go / will go
📝 -ます form
The verb comes at the very end

After all objects and particles.

💬 Examples
毎日日本語を勉強します。
Mainichi nihongo o benkyō shimasu.
(I) study Japanese every day.
📝 Verb 'shimasu' last
コーヒーを飲みます。
Kōhī o nomimasu.
(I) drink coffee.
📝 Object + verb
The polite form shows respect to the listener

Default for most situations.

💬 Examples
何をしますか。
Nani o shimasu ka.
What will you do?
📝 Polite question
映画を見ます。
Eiga o mimasu.
(I) watch a movie.
📝 Polite statement